WO2003029495A2

WO2003029495A2 - Coniosulphides and their derivatives, method for their production and use as medicaments

Info

Publication number: WO2003029495A2
Application number: PCT/EP2002/009977
Authority: WO
Inventors: László VERTESY; Klaus Ehrlich; Michael Kurz; Marian Paul Segeth; Luigi Toti
Original assignee: Aventis Pharma Deutschland Gmbh
Priority date: 2001-09-22
Filing date: 2002-09-06
Publication date: 2003-04-10
Also published as: DE50213512D1; PE20030466A1; MXPA04001951A; EP1474440A2; AR036554A1; WO2003029495A3; JP2009149662A; EP1903033B1; ES2314107T3; JP2005504131A; DE10146737A1; AU2002339519B2; CA2461033C; ATE430131T1; CA2461033A1; IL160938A0; JP4287744B2; ATE407942T1; IL160938A; DE50212774D1

Abstract

The invention relates to compounds of formula (I), which are formed from the micro-organism Coniochaeta ellipsoidea Udagawa, DSM 13856, or from one of its mutations and/or variants during fermentation and which optionally are chemically converted into derivatives. The invention also relates to a method for producing compounds of formula (I) and to the use of the same as medicaments. In addition, the invention relates to the use of a compound of formula (VI) for producing a medicament for the treatment and prophylaxis of degenerative neuropathies or Alzheimer's disease.

Description

description

Coniosulfides and their derivatives, process for their preparation and use as medicines.

Alzheimer's disease (dementia of the Alzheimer's type, AD) is, according to current knowledge, a hereditary, inextricably progressing cerebral cortical atrophy with increasing disturbances of thought. Alzheimer's disease is a neuropsychiatric disorder that predominantly occurs in the elderly. The disease manifests itself in a complex of symptoms that includes memory impairment, decreased memory, disorientation, speech disorders, disordered thinking, and so on. In Alzheimer's patients, characteristic neurohistological changes are found, such as deposits of so-called amyloid plaques as well as degeneration of the neurofibrillaries in the nerve cells (so-called "fibrillar bundles") .These changes are characteristic, but by no means specific, as they are to a lesser extent also occur during the normal aging process.

Currently, no causal, but only symptomatic treatment of AD is possible. So far, there are drugs that only delay the course of the disease, but they can not cure. The most important therapeutic approach is offered by the group of cerebral acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (Tacrin®, Donepezil®, Rivastigmine®, Galantamin®), since cholinergic signaling plays an important role in the memory-relevant structures that are particularly impaired in AD. The drugs, however, can only be found in mild and moderate

Disease stage can be used. They increase the concentration of acetylcholine in the information-transmitting synapses of the brain. If too much damage to the neurons, ie in the late stages of the disease, they are no longer effective. Other substances being tested are estrogens, non-steroidal analgesics, antioxidants and nerve growth factors (NGF). However, all these agents are inadequate in their effect for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. It is estimated that there are currently about one million people in the Federal Republic of Germany who suffer from Alzheimer's disease. This number is likely to increase in the coming years due to the increasing life expectancy of the population (F. Kohl, Prax. Naturwiss Biol. (1999), 48 (6), 26-31). Therefore, new substances are urgently needed to treat this disease.

The histological brain changes characteristic of AD are the so-called amyloid patches. There are pathological protein deposits of the β-amyloid peptide or the βA4 protein, which, as a result of a metabolic defect, from a physiological cell membrane component, the amyloid precursor protein (APP), cleaved out. It then accumulates within the brain, where it can no longer be broken down by the body and appears as plaque (F. Kohl, Prax. Naturwiss Biol. (1999), 48 (6), 26-31; DJ Selkoe; Trends Cell Biol. (1998), 8, 447-453). The essential element of the amyloid paque is a 39-43 amino acid peptide, called β-amyloid or Aβ. This peptide is formed during the processing of the APP. In patients suffering from the hereditary form of AD, mutations in the genes coding for this processing have been found. In the same cases, an increase in Aβ production has been observed, from which it has been concluded that processing the APP may be a suitable site for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. When processing the APP, the tetrapeptide partial sequence Asn-Pro-Thr-Tyr plays a role. This partial sequence is recognized by the proteins COFE65 and especially FE65 and it is believed that the protein-protein interaction responsible for APP processing takes place with their involvement (WO 98/21327). Agents inhibiting the APP - FE65 interaction should therefore be valuable agents for the treatment of AD.

The present invention relates to new drugs (coniosulfides) of the Famesylthio-peptide type, which are derived from the microorganism Coniochaeta ellipsoidea Udagawa, DSM 13856, during fermentation derived from the coniosulfides chemical derivatives, a process for their preparation, and the use of coniosulfides and their derivatives as pharmaceuticals.

There are already some compounds known with Famesylthiopeptid-G structure.

Eng Wui Tan et al. (J.Am.Chem.Soc. (1991), 113, 6299-6300) and Bryant A. Gilbert (J.Am.Chem.Soc. (1992), 114, 3966-3973) describe the compounds famesylcysteine and farnesylcysteine oxide,

which are good substrates of isoprenylated protein methyltransferase.

Previously, the importance of prenylation of proteins for anchoring them in biological membranes has been known (J.A. Glomset et al., Trends in Biochem. Sciences (1990), 15, 139-142).

Miyakawa et al. (J. Bacteriol. (1982), 151, 1184-1194) describe the compounds rhodotorucine A (p = 0) and rhodotorucine AS oxide (p = 1),

as Rhodosporidium toruloides type A cell sex hormones.

It has surprisingly been found that the strain Coniochaeta ellipsoidea Udagawa, DSM 13856, is able to form new compounds which not only effectively inhibit the APP-FE65 interaction, but are also well tolerated. These compounds are the following described coniosulfides farnesyl thiopeptide derivatives of the formula (I).

The invention relates to a compound of the formula (I)

where R

1.0 H. or

2.0 is a radical selected from -CrC ₆ alkyl, -C ₂ -C ₆ alkenyl, -C ₂ -C ₆ alkynyl or -C _ö -cio-aryl, which may be monosubstituted or disubstituted by

2.1 -OH,

2.2 = 0,

2.3 -O-d-Ce-alkyl,

2.4 -O-C ₂ -C ₆ -alkenyl,

2.5 ce-do-aryl,

2.6 -NH-d-Ce-alkyl,

2.7 -NH-C ₂ -C ₆ -alkenyl,

2.8 -NH ₂ or 2.9 fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine, in which the substituents 2.3 to 2.8 may also be further substituted by -CN or -amide functions, 3.0 - (C ₁ -C ₄ -alkyl) - (C ₆ -C ₁₀ -aryl) , or is 4.0 -NH _2l -NH-fCrCe-alkyl), -NH- (C ₂ -C ₆ -alkenyl),

R ^{2 is} H, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl or isobutyl,

R ^{3 is} a radical consisting of 1 to 10 amino acids, which may be N-terminally protected with a -CO- (CC ₆ alkyl) or a -CrC _θ alkyl group,

R ^{4 is} H, -CrCe-alkyl, -CO- (CC ₆ -alkyl), -CO- (C ₂ -C ₆ -alkenyl) or - (C ₁ -C ₄ -alkyl) - (C ₆ -

p is an integer 0, 1 or 2,

excluding compounds of the formula (I) in which R ^{1 is} H, R ^{2 is} H,

R ^{4 is} H, and p is 0 or 1,

and / or a stereoisomeric form of the compound of the formula (I) and / or mixtures of these forms in any ratio,

and / or complexes or adducts of the compound of the formula (I),

and / or a physiologically acceptable salt of the compound of formula (I).

R ¹ is preferably H. R ² is preferably H or methyl, more preferably methyl.

R ³ is preferably one of 1 to 2 amino acids, preferably natural amino acids, more preferably uncharged natural amino acids, existing residue which may be N-terminally protected, preferably with an acetyl group.

R ⁴ is preferably H.

p is preferably 0.

The invention preferably relates to a compound of the formula (I) in which R ^{4 is} H and R ¹ , R ² , R ³ and p are as defined above.

Furthermore, the invention preferably relates to a compound of the formula (I) in which R ^{4 is} hydrogen and p is zero and R ¹ , R ² and R ^{3 are} as defined above.

More preferably, the invention relates to a compound of formula (I) wherein R ^{2 is} H or methyl, R ^{4 is} hydrogen, and p is zero, and R ¹ and R ^{3 are} as defined above.

Furthermore, the invention particularly preferably relates to a compound of the formula (I) in which R ^{2 is} H or methyl, R ^{3 is} a radical consisting of 1 to 2 amino acids, which may be N-terminally protected, R ^{4 is} hydrogen, and p is zero , and R ^{1 are} as defined above.

The invention particularly preferably relates to a compound of the formula (I) in which R ^{1 is} H, R ^{2 is} H or methyl, R ^{3 is} a radical consisting of 1 to 2 amino acids, which may be N-terminally protected, R ^{4 is} hydrogen, and p Zero means.

The invention particularly particularly preferably relates to a compound of the formula (I) in which R ^{1 is} hydrogen, R ^{2 is} hydrogen or methyl, R ^{3 is} a residue Gly or Gly-Gly which may be N-terminally protected, R ^{4 is} hydrogen, and p Zero means. Amino acids may have D or L configuration. Natural amino acids are the codable amino acids and have L configuration. Natural neutral amino acids are Glycine (Gly), L-Alanine (Ala), L-Valine (Val), L-Leucine (Leu), L-Isoleucine (Ile), L-Proline (Pro), L-Tryptophan (Type) , L-phenylalanine (Phe) and L-methionine (Met).

C 1 -C 6 -alkyl denotes a straight-chain or branched alkyl group having 1 to 6 C atoms, preferably having 1 to 4 C atoms, for example methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, tert-butyl or n hexyl.

C ₂ -C ₆ alkenyl is a straight-chain or branched alkenyl group having 2 to 6 C atoms which is mono-, di- or tri-unsaturated, for example allyl, crotyl, 1-propenyl, penta-1,3-dienyl or pentenyl.

C ₂ -C ₆ -alkynyl is a straight-chain or branched alkynyl group having 2 to 6 C atoms which contains one or two triple bonds, for example propynyl, butynyl or pentynyl.

C ₆ -Cιo-Aryl means an aryl group having 6 to 10 ring carbon atoms, for example phenyl or naphthyl, which may be monosubstituted or polysubstituted with, for example, chlorine, bromine, fluorine, iodine, --CrC ₄ alkyl, preferably methyl , Hydroxy, -O- (C 1 -C ₄ -alkyl), preferably methoxy, or by perfiuorierte CrC ₄ -alkyl radicals, preferably trifluoromethyl.

- (C ₁ -C 4 -alkyl) - (C ₆ -C 10 -aryl) is preferably benzyl.

-CO- (-CC ₆ alkyl) means an aliphatic acyl group having 2 to 7 C-atoms, preferably 2 to 5 C-atoms, for example formyl, acetyl, propionyl, butyryl, hexanoyl, acryloyl, crotonoyl, propioloyl, the may be further substituted, for example by chlorine, bromine, fluorine, iodine, NH ₂ , - (C ₁ -C alkyl) -NH ₂ , preferably methylamino or ethylamino. -CO- (C ₂ -C ₆ -alkenyl) denotes an aliphatic acyl group having 3 to 7 C atoms, preferably 3 to 5 C atoms, for acryloyl, crotonoyl, propioloyl, which may be further substituted, for example by chlorine, Bromine, fluorine, iodine, NH ₂ , - (CC-alkyl) -NH ₂ , preferably methylamino or ethylamino.

-CO- (C ₆ -Cιo-aryl) means an aromatic acyl group having 6 to 10 ring carbon atoms, for example benzoyl or naphthoyl, which may also be further substituted, for example by chlorine, bromine, fluorine, iodine, -C C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, preferably methyl, hydroxy, - (C 1 -C ₄ -alkyl) -NH _2, preferably methylamino or ethylamino, or -O- (C 1 -C 4 -alkyl), preferably -O- (C 1 -C ₄ -alkyl) , especially methoxy.

Chirality centers in the compounds of formulas (I) can be independently in the R or S configuration, unless otherwise specified. Double bonds may be independently in the cis or trans position. The invention relates to both the optically pure compounds and

Stereoisomer mixtures, such as mixtures of enantiomers and mixtures of diastereomers, in any ratio.

The invention preferably relates to a compound of the formula (II)

(Coniosulfide A: general formula: C ₂₂ H ₃₄ CN ₂ S, MW 422.59),

a compound of the formula (III)

(Coniosulfide B,

MG. 436.62)

a compound of the formula (IV)

(Coniosulfide C, C ₂₄ H ₃ 7N3OJ ₅ S, MW. 479.64) and

a compound of the formula (V)

(Coniosulfide D, C ₂₅ H ₃ 9O5N ₃ S, MW 493.67),

as well as their obvious chemical equivalents and / or physiologically acceptable salts.

Obvious chemical equivalents of the compounds of the formulas (I) to (V) are compounds which have a slight chemical difference, ie have the same activity or convert into the compounds according to the invention under mild conditions. The mentioned equivalents include, for example Esters, azomethines (Schiff ^'s bases), hydrogenation products, reduction products, complexes or adducts of or with the compounds according to the invention, which are prepared by methods known in the literature (March, Advanced Organic Synthesis, 4 ^th Edition, John Wiley & Sons, 1992).

Double bonds in the alkyl chain in compounds of formula (I) can be reduced, for example, by hydrogenolysis or by other methods known per se, for example as described by PN Rylander in "Hydrogenation Methods", Academic Press, New York (1985), Chapter 2, or HO House in "Modern Synthetic Reactions," WA Benjymin, Inc., New York (1972), 446-452. The double bonds can also be oxidized to epoxides, for example, by meta-chloroperbenzoic acid (MCPBA, J. March, Advanced Organic Synthesis, 4 ^th Edition, John Wiley & Sons, 1992).

The inventive compounds of the formula (I) to (V) and the obvious chemical equivalents thereof can be converted into the corresponding physiologically acceptable salts by methods known to the person skilled in the art.

Physiologically acceptable salts of the compounds according to the invention are understood as meaning both inorganic and organic salts, as described in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences (17th Edition, page 1418 [1985]). As salts, in particular alkali metal, ammonium, alkaline earth metal salts, salts with physiologically acceptable amines and salts with inorganic or organic acids such as HCl, HBr, H ₂ S0 _4, maleic acid, fumaric acid.

The compounds of the formula (I) according to the invention differ from substances known from the literature. Although structurally related farnesyl thiopeptides have been described (vide supra), they differ in their exact chemical structure and their effectiveness from the compounds according to the invention.

The invention also relates to a compound of formula (I) obtainable by fermentation of Coniochaeta ellipsoidea Udagawa, DSM 13856, or one of its Mutants or variants in a culture medium, until a compound of formula (I) accumulates in the culture medium, and then isolating the compound of formula (I), and optionally derivatization and / or optionally converted into a physiologically acceptable salt.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a process for the preparation of a compound of formula (I), characterized in that the microorganism Coniochaeta ellipsoidea Udagawa, DSM 13856, or a variant or mutant of Coniochaeta ellipsoidea Udagawa, DSM 13856, is fermented in a culture medium until a compound of formula (I) accumulates in the culture broth, the compound of formula (I) is isolated, and optionally subsequently derivatized and optionally converted into a pharmacologically acceptable salt.

In the derivatization of the compound of the formula (I), for example, the -NR ³ R ⁴ group in which R ^{4 is} hydrogen by methods known per se (J.March, Advanced Organic Chemistry, Wiley & Sons, 4 ^th ed is alkylated or acylated, the S atom of the sulfide group (p = 0) is oxidized, for example by means of MCPBA, hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid or by means of other peracids to a sulfoxide derivative (p = 1) or sulfone derivative (p = 2), and / or a free acid group of the compound of the formula (I) in which R ^{1 is} hydrogen, esterified with an activated alcohol. Activated alcohols are, for example, diazomethane or other alcohol derivatives.

To selectively carry out reactions, it may be advantageous to introduce suitable protecting groups in a manner known per se prior to the reaction. The protecting groups can be cleaved off after the reaction, and the reaction product is then optionally purified.

The fungus Coniochaeta ellipsoidea Udagawa was deposited at the German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures GmbH (DSM), Mascheroder Weg 1B, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany under the rules of the Budapest Treaty on 17.11.2000 under the following number: DSM 13856. The fungus possesses a white substrate mycelium and very little aerial mycelium and does not form a fruiting body characteristic of coniochaeta in culture.

Preferably, the process for the preparation of compounds of formula (I) comprises the cultivation of Coniochaeta ellipsoidea Udagawa, DSM 13856, its mutants and / or variants under aerobic conditions in one or more carbon sources, nitrogen sources, inorganic salts and optionally trace elements culture medium.

Instead of the strain DSM 13856, its mutants and / or variants can also be used if they synthesize the compounds according to the invention.

Mutants are species belonging to the same species that differ in their genes and thus represent different genotypes ("Genotype: The genetic constitution of an organism, usually in respect of one gene or a few genes relevant to a particular context", McGraw-Hill , Dictionary of scientific and technical terms, McGraw-Hill Book Company, NY 1978, page 672).

The production of mutants is described inter alia in Brock et al. "Biology of Microorganisms", Prentice Hall, pp. 238-247 (1994), according to which, for example, physical means, for example irradiation with ultraviolet or X-rays, or by chemical mutagens, such as ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS); 2-hydroxy-4-methoxy benzophenone (MOB) or N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) can induce mutations.

Variants according to the invention differ in identical genome in the wild type phenotype ("Phenotype: The observable characters of an organism", McGraw-Hill, Dictionary of scientific and technical terms, McGraw-Hill Book Company, NY 1978, page 1199). Microorganisms have the ability to develop various phenotypes depending on their environment: "In the case of phenotypic adaptation, all cells of a population are Involved. This type of change is not genetically conditioned. It is a modification that is reversible "(H. Stolp," Microbial ecology: organisms, habitats, activities ", Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, GB, 1988, page 180).

The screening for mutants and variants which produce the compounds according to the invention can be carried out by determining the biological activity of the active ingredient accumulated in the culture broth or by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC determination).

Suitable carbon sources for the fermentation include, for example, assimilable carbohydrates and sugar alcohols, such as glucose, lactose, sucrose or D-mannitol, as well as carbohydrate-containing natural products, e.g. Malt extract or yeast extract. As nitrogen-containing nutrients are, for example, amino acids, peptides and proteins and their degradation products, such as casein, peptones or tryptones, also meat extracts, yeast extracts, ground seeds, such as corn, wheat, beans, soybean or cotton plant, distillation residues of alcohol production, meat flours or yeast extracts, but also ammonium salts and nitrates, in particular but also synthetically or biosynthetically obtained peptides into consideration. As inorganic salts, the nutrient solution may contain, for example, chlorides, carbonates, sulfates or phosphates of the alkali metals or alkaline earth metals, and as trace elements, for example, iron, zinc, cobalt, molybdenum, boron, vanadium and manganese.

Preferably, the culture medium contains malt extract, yeast extract, glucose, starch, oat flakes and / or glycerol, particularly preferably in proportions of 0.05 to 5%, preferably 1 to 2% malt extract, 0.05 to 3%, preferably 0.05 to 1 % Yeast extract, 0.2 to 5%, preferably 0.5 to 2% glucose and 0.5 to 3%, preferably 1.5% to 3% oat flakes, in each case based on the weight of the entire nutrient solution.

In this nutrient solution, Coniochaeta ellipsoidea Udagawa, DSM 13856, forms a mixture of the compounds of the formula (I) according to the invention. Depending on Composition of the nutrient solution may vary the quantitative proportion of one or more of the coniosulfides according to the invention. In addition, the synthesis of individual coniosulfides can be controlled by the composition of the media, so that a coniosulfide is not produced at all or in an amount below the detection limit of the microorganism.

The cultivation of the microorganism is preferably carried out aerobically, for example, submersed with shaking or stirring in shake flasks or fermenters or on solid medium, optionally with the introduction of air or oxygen. The cultivation can be carried out in a temperature range of about 15 to 35 ° C, preferably at about 20 to 35 ° C, especially at 25 to 30 ° C. The pH range of the cultivation can be between 3 and 10, preferably between 6.5 and 7.5. The microorganism is cultivated under these conditions generally over a period of 48 to 960 hours, preferably 72 to 720 hours. Advantageously, one cultivates in several stages, i. one first prepares one or more precultures in a liquid nutrient medium, which are then inoculated into the actual production medium, the main culture, for example in a volume ratio of 1: 10-1: 100. The preculture is obtained, for example, by inoculating the mycelium into a nutrient solution and allowing it to grow for about 20 to 120 hours, preferably 48 to 72 hours. The mycelium can be obtained, for example, by adding the

Strain for about 1 to 40 days, preferably 21 to 35 days, on a solid or liquid nutrient medium, for example yeast malt agar, oatmeal agar or potato dextrose agar.

The course of fermentation and the formation of the compounds according to the invention can be carried out according to methods known to the person skilled in the art, e.g. by testing biological activity in bioassays or by chromatographic methods such as thin layer chromatography (TLC) or high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

The fungus Coniochaeta ellipsoidea Udagawa, DSM 13856, can form the coniosulphides by a surface or stand culture on solid nutrient media. Solid nutrient media are prepared by adding, for example, agar or gelatin to aqueous nutrient media. However, it is also possible to win the coniosulfides by fermentation of the fungus Coniochaeta ellipsoidea Udagawa submerged, ie in aqueous slurry. The coniosulfides can occur both in the mycelium and in the culture filtrate, usually the major amount is in the cell mass. It is therefore appropriate to separate the fermentation solution by filtration or centrifugation. The filtrate is extracted with an adsorption resin as a solid phase. The mycelium, but also the surface culture is extracted with a solvent which is miscible with water, for example with acetonitrile, n-propanol or isopropanol, preferably with methanol or acetone, or with a water-immiscible solvent, for example with chloroform. Dichloromethane or preferably with tert-butanol or ethyl acetate. Preferably, compounds of formula (I) are extracted with methanol or propanol-2. The extractions can be carried out in a wide pH range, but it is expedient to work in a neutral or slightly acidic medium, preferably between pH 3 and 8. The extracts can be concentrated in vacuo and dried.

One method of isolating the coniosulfides according to the invention is the dissolution distribution between solvents and / or absorption distribution on solids of different polarity in a manner known per se.

Another method of purification is chromatography on adsorption resins such as Diaion® HP-20 (Mitsubishi Casei Corp., Tokyo), Amberlite® XAD 7 (Rohm and Haas, USA), Amberchrom® CG (Toso Haas, Philadelphia , USA) or similar. Also suitable are numerous reverse-phase carriers, for example RP ₈ and RP- ₁₈ , as they have become generally known for example in the context of high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC).

Another possibility for cleaning the coniosulfides according to the invention consists in the use of so-called normal phase chromatography carriers, such as, for example, silica gel or Al ₂ O ₃ , in a manner known per se. An alternative method of isolation is the use of molecular sieves, such as Fractogel® TSK HW-40, Sephadex® G-25, and others, as known per se. In addition, it is also possible to recover from enriched material, the coniosulfides by crystallization. Suitable for this purpose are, for example, organic solvents and their mixtures, anhydrous or with added water. An additional process for the isolation and purification of the compounds according to the invention consists in the use of anion exchangers, preferably in the pH range of 4 to 10 and cation exchangers, preferably in the pH range of 2 to 5. Particularly suitable for this purpose is the use of buffer solutions which one has added proportions of organic solvents.

The strain Coniochaeta ellipsoidea Udagawa, DSM 13856, moreover produces a tetramic acid derivative of the formula (VI) called coniosetin,

which also inhibits the APP-FE65 interaction.

Chirality centers in the compound of formula (VI) may be in the R or S configuration unless otherwise specified, as optically pure compounds or as stereoisomer mixtures, such as mixtures of enantiomers and mixtures of diastereomers.

Preferably, the compound of formula (VI) has the stereochemistry mentioned in formula (VI A):

To obtain coniosetine of the formula (VI), Coniochaeta ellipsoidea Udagawa, DSM 13856, is fermented, the fermentation temperature, the pH and the constituents of the culture medium being identical to those given for the recovery of coniosulfide and coniosulfide derivatives, then extracted and isolated, the extraction and purification methods are the same as for coniosulfide and coniosulfide derivatives. Coniosetin of formula (VI) may then optionally be converted to an apparent chemical equivalent and / or pharmacologically acceptable salt.

Obvious chemical equivalents and pharmacologically acceptable salts of compounds of formula (VI) and (VI A) are as defined for compounds of formula (I) to (V).

Coniosetin and coniosetin derivatives, a process for their preparation by fermentation of Coniochaeta ellipsoidea Udagawa, DSM 13856, and the use of coniosetin and derivatives as medicaments are described in German patent application number DE 10060810.8.

It has been found that the compounds of the formula (I), (II), (III), (IV), (V), (VI), and (VI A) according to the invention have strong inhibition of the amyloid precursor protein-FE65 interaction They are therefore suitable for the treatment and prophylaxis of degenerative neuropathies and Alzheimer's disease. Table 1 summarizes selected inhibition constants by way of example. Table 1: Inhibition of Amyloid Precursor Protein - FE65 Interaction by Coniosulfide AD and Coniosetin

Coniosulfide A (Formula (III) IC ₅₀ = 2.3 μM

Coniosulfide B (Formula (IV) IC ₅ o = 2.6 μM Coniosulfide C (Formula (V) IC ₅₀ = 3.8 μM

Coniosulfide D (Formula (VI) IC ₅₀ = 3.8 μM

Coniosetin IC ₅₀ = 28 μM

Another object of the present invention is thus a pharmaceutical composition containing at least one compound of formula (I), preferably one

Compound of formula (II) to (V), and one or more physiologically suitable carriers and / or excipients.

Further, an object of the present invention is the use of a compound of formula (I), preferably a compound of formula (II) to (V), as a medicament.

Another object of the invention is the use of a compound of formula (I), preferably a compound of formula (II) to (V), for the preparation of medicaments for the treatment and / or prophylaxis of degenerative

Neuropathies, preferably senile dementia or Alzheimer's disease.

Another object of the invention is the use of a compound of formula (VI), preferably of formula (VI A), for the preparation of medicaments for the treatment and / or prophylaxis of degenerative neuropathies, preferably senile dementia or Alzheimer's disease.

The said medicament is prepared by mixing at least one compound of the formula (I) or formula (VI) with at least one physiologically suitable carrier and / or adjuvant and bringing it into a suitable dosage form. The medicaments according to the invention can be administered enterally (orally), parenterally (intramuscularly or intravenously), rectally or locally (topically). They may be administered in the form of solutions, powders, tablets, capsules including microcapsules, ointments, creams, gels, or suppositories. Suitable physiologically suitable carriers or excipients for such formulations are the pharmaceutically customary liquid or solid fillers and extenders, solvents, emulsifiers, lubricants, flavoring agents, dyes and / or buffer substances. As appropriate dosage 0.1 to 1000, preferably 0.2 to 100 mg / kg body weight administered. They are expediently administered in dosage units containing, for example, the effective daily amount of the compounds according to the invention, for example 30-3000, preferably 50-1000 mg.

The following examples are intended to illustrate the invention without limiting the breadth of the invention in any way.

Example 1 Preparation of a glycerin culture of Coniochaeta ellipsoidea, DSM 13856

30 ml of nutrient solution (malt extract 2.0%, yeast extract 0.2%, glucose 1, 0% (NH ₄ ) ₂ HP0 ₄ 0.05%, pH 6.0) in a sterile 100 ml Erlenmeyer flask are mixed with the strain Coniochaeta ellipsoidea Udagawa, DSM 13856, and incubated for 6 days at 25 ° C and 140 rpm on a rotary shaker. 1, 5 ml of this culture are then diluted with 2.5 ml of 80% glycerol and stored at -135 ° C.

Example 2 Preparation of a preculture in the conical flask of Coniochaeta ellipsoidea Udagawa, DSM 13856

100 ml of nutrient solution (malt extract 2.0%, yeast extract 0.2%, glucose 1, 0% (NH ₄ ) ₂ HP0 0.05%, pH 6.0) in a sterile 300 ml Erlenmeyer flask are incubated with the strain Coniochaeta ellipsoidea Udagawa , DSM 13856, and incubated for 4 days at 25 ° C and 140 rpm on a rotary shaker. 2 ml of this preculture are then used for the production of the main cultures. Example 3 Preparation of a major culture of Coniochaeta ellipsoidea Udagawa, DSM 13856, on solid medium plates.

100 sterile 22 x 22 cm ² plates are poured in each case with 200 ml of the following nutrient solution 20 g / l malt extract, 20 g / l oatmeal, 2% agar and pH 7.0. These plates are inoculated with 2 mL of a preculture and incubated at 25 ° C. The maximum production of one or more compounds of the coniosulfides according to the invention is reached after about 676 hours.

Example 4: Isolation of coniosulfides.

100 pieces of the agar cultures obtained according to Example 3 from Coniochaeta ellipsoidea Udagawa, DSM 13856, were freeze-dried. They gave 499 g of culture lyophilizate. The lyophilizate was extracted three times with 20 liters of methanol, concentrated in vacuo at room temperature and then freeze-dried under high vacuum. This resulted in 79.8 g of crude extract. The lyophilized crude extract was dissolved in 25% methanol in 0.050 mol / L ammonium acetate and pumped through a column (50 x 300 mm) filled with 0.5 liter of MCI Gel CHP20P (Mitsubishi Chemical Industries, Tokyo, Japan). The column was first washed with 1 L of 25% by volume acetonitrile in 75% by volume 50 mM aqueous ammonium acetate buffer and then eluted with a linear gradient of 44% to 100% by volume acetonitrile in 50 mM ammonium acetate. After HPLC-DAD analysis, the coniosulfide-containing fraction was concentrated on a rotary evaporator in vacuo at 38 ° C bath temperature and freeze-dried. The yield of lyophilized coniosulfide mixture was 0.26 g. This coniosulfide mixture was dissolved in methanol and applied to a preparative HPLC column filled with LiChrospher RP-18e (10 μm, E. Merck, Darmstadt, Germany) (column dimensions: 25 × 250 mm ² + precolumn 25 × 10 mm ² ) , The RP column was first eluted with 30% by volume acetonitrile in 50 mM ammonium acetate buffer at a flow rate of 50 mL per minute and then, from Fr.14, with a linear gradient of 30% to 100% acetonitrile by volume in 50 mM ammonium acetate buffer. The fractions (25 ml each) were analyzed analytically in the HPLC-DAD system. The Fraction 30 contained the coniosulfide A, fraction 33 the coniosulfide B, fraction 28 the coniosulfide C and fraction 31 the coniosulfide D.

Example 5 Final Cleaning of Coniosulfide A.

The enriched coniosulfide A (fraction 30) obtained in Example 4 was separated on a LiChrospher® 100 RP-18e HPLC column (5 μm, width x height = 1 cm x 25 cm) with 50% acetonitrile in 10 mM acetic acid , Flow: 10 mL / min. The fractions investigated by analytical HPLC (see Example 10) were pooled according to their coniosulfide A content, concentrated in vacuo and freeze-dried. They give 8 mg Coniosulfid A in 98% purity.

Example 6: Characterization of Coniosulfide A.

The physicochemical and spectroscopic properties of coniosulfide A can be summarized as follows:

Appearance:

Colorless to light yellow, soluble in medium polar and polar organic solvents, little soluble in water substance. Stable in neutral and mildly acidic environment, but unstable in strongly acidic and strongly alkaline solution.

Empirical formula: C ₂₂ H ₃₄ θ NS;

Molecular weight: 422.59 Da; ¹ H and ¹³ C NMR: see Table 2;

UV maximum: 288 nm

Mass spectrometric investigations:

Coniosulfide A was assigned mass 422 based on the following findings: ESI ⁺ spectrum provided peaks at 423 amu (M + H) ⁺ , 445 (M + Na) ^+, and 461 (M + K) ⁺ . Among others, a peak at 423.2314 amu was observed with a Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance (FTICR) mass spectrometer. The measured value corresponds to the mass calculated for (M + H) ⁺ = C ₂₂ H ₃₅ θ ₄ N ₂ S = 423.2312.

MS / MS experiments with an FTICR mass spectrometer resulted in the following fragmentations: ESI ⁺ mode: 423 amu (M + H) ⁺ to 324 amu (-C ₄ H ₅ N0 ₂ ), 280 amu (- C ₅ H ₅ N 0 ₄ ), 237 amu (-C ₇ H ₁₀ N ₂ O), 219 amu (-Cι ₅ H ₂ ), 205 amu (-C ₇ H ₁₀ N ₂ O ₄ S), 100 amu (CH ₆ O ₂ N +) , and smaller fragments.

Table 2: Chemical shifts of Coniosulfide A in DMSO at 300 K.

Example 7: Final purification and characterization of coniosulfide B.

The enriched coniosulfide B (fraction 33) obtained in Example 4 was separated on a LiChrospher® 100 RP-18e HPLC column (5 μm, width x height = 1 cm x 25 cm) with 50% acetonitrile in 10 mM acetic acid , Flow: 10 mL / min. The fractions investigated by analytical HPLC (see Example 10) were pooled according to their coniosulfide B content, concentrated in vacuo and freeze-dried. They give 6 mg Coniosulfid B in 97% purity.

The physicochemical and spectroscopic properties of coniosulfide B can be summarized as follows:

Appearance: Colorless to light yellow, soluble in medium polar and polar organic solvents, little soluble in water substance. Stable in neutral and mildly acidic environment, but unstable in strongly acidic and strongly alkaline solution.

Empirical formula: C ₂₃ H ₃₆ θ ₄ N ₂ S; Molecular weight: 436.62 Da;

¹ H and ¹³ C NMR: see Table 3;

UV maximum: 288 nm

Mass Spectrometry: Coniosulfide B was assigned mass 436 based on the following findings: ESI ⁺ spectrum provided peaks at 437 amu (M + H) ⁺ , 459 amu (M + Na) ^+, and 475 amu (M + K) ⁺ . High resolution of the quasi-molecular ion: A peak at 437.2472 amu is observed in ESI ⁺ mode with an FTICR mass spectrometer. The reading agrees with that calculated for (M + H) ⁺ = C ₂₃ H ₃₇ 0 ₄ N ₂ S = 437.2469 amu. MS / MS experiments with an FTICR mass spectrometer lead to the following fragmentations:

ESI ⁺ mode: 437 amu to 338 amu (-C ₄ H ₅ N0 ₂ ), 321 amu

294 (-C ₅ H ₅ N0 ₄ ), 251 amu (-C ₇ H ₁₀ N ₂ O ₄ ), 219.04 amu (-C ₁₆ H ₂₆ ), 219.21 (-C ₇ H ₁₀ N ₂ O ₄ S), 100 amu (C ₄ H ₆ O ₂ N +) and smaller fragments.

Table 3: Chemical shifts of coniosulfide B in DMSO at 300K.

^a) The two methyl groups could not be clearly assigned.

Example 8. Final purification and characterization of coniosulfide C.

The enriched coniosulfide C (fraction 28) obtained in Example 4 was separated on a LiChrospher® 100 RP-18e HPLC column (5 μm, width x height = 1 cm x 25 cm) with 50% acetonitrile in 10 mM acetic acid , Flow: 10 mL / min. The fractions analyzed by analytical HPLC (see Example 10) were pooled according to their coniosulfide C content, concentrated in vacuo and freeze-dried. They give 18 mg Coniosulfid C in 98% purity.

The physico-chemical and spectroscopic properties of coniosulfide C can be summarized as follows:

Appearance:

Molecular Formula: C ₂₄ H ₃₇ O ₅ N ₃ S;

Molecular weight: 479.64 Da;

¹ H and ¹³ C NMR: see Table 4;

UV maximum: 288 nm Mass spectrometric investigations:

Coniosulfide C was assigned the mass 479 amu due to the following findings:

ESI ⁺ spectrum gave peaks at 502 amu (M + Na) ⁺ and 518 amu (M + K) ⁺ .

ESrSpektrum gave a peak at 478 amu (MH) ^" .

An FTICR mass spectrometer in ESI ^" mode included a peak

478.23810 amu observed. The measured value agrees with that for (MH) ^" = C ₂₄ H ₃₆ θ ₅ N ₃ S

478.23812 amu calculated match.

MS / MS experiments with an FTICR mass spectrometer led to the following

Fragmentations: ESI ^" mode:

478 amu (MH) ^" to 434 amu (-C0 ₂ ), 416 amu (-H ₂ C0 ₃ ) 230 amu (-C ₁₅ H ₂ 4 c0 ₂ ), 229 amu (-C ₁₅ H ₂ 5C0 ₂ ), 196 amu (C ₈ H ₁₀ N ₃ O ₃ ^" ), 155 amu (C ₆ H ₇ N ₂ O ₃ ^" ), 154 amu

(C ₆ H ₆ N ₂ θ ₃ ^" ) and smaller fragments.

Table 4: Chemical shifts of Coniosulfide C in DMSO at 300 K.

Example 9: Final purification and characterization of coniosulfide D.

The enriched coniosulfide D (fraction 31), obtained according to example 4, was purified on a LiChrospher® 100 RP-18e HPLC column (5 μm, width x height = 1 cm x 25 cm) with 35% acetonitrile in 10 mM ammonium acetate. Buffer separated. Flow: 5 mL / min. The fractions investigated by analytical HPLC (see Example 10) were combined according to their coniosulfide D content, concentrated in vacuo and freeze-dried. They give 18 mg of coniosulfide D in 97% purity.

The physico-chemical and spectroscopic properties of coniosulfide D can be summarized as follows:

Molecular Formula: C ₂₅ H39O5N3S; Molecular weight: 493.67 Da; ¹ H and ¹³ C NMR: see Table 5; UV maximum: 288 nm

Mass spectrometric studies: Coniosulfide D was assigned the mass 493 based on the following findings: ESI ⁺ spectrum yielded peaks at 494 amu (M + H) ⁺ and 516 amu (M + Na) ⁺ . ESI ^" spectrum provides, inter alia, a peak at 492 amu (MH) ^' .

Among others, a peak at 494.2687 amu was observed with an FTICR mass spectrometer. The measured value agreed with that for (M + H) ⁺ = C ₂₅ H ₄ o0 ₅ N ₃ S = 494.2683 amu calculated match (0.7 ppm deviation).

MS / MS experiments with an FTICR mass spectrometer lead to the following fragmentations:

ESl ⁺ mode: 494 (M + H) ⁺ to 476 (-H ₂ O), 395 (-C ₄ H ₅ NO ₂ ), 338 (-C ₆ H ₈ N ₂ O ₃ ), 294 (- C ₇ H ₈ N ₂ O ₆ ), 157 (-C ₁₉ H ₃ ιN0 ₂ S).

ESf mode: 492 to 448 (-C0 ₂ ), 430 (-CH ₂ 0 ₃ ), 230 (-C ₁₆ H ₂ 6C0 ₂ ), 229 (-C ₁₆ H ₂₇ C0 ₂ ), 196 (C ₈ H ₁ oN ₃ 0 ₃ ^" ) _> 155 (C ₆ H ₇ N ₂ 0 ₃ ^" ), 154 (C ₆ H ₆ N ₂ θ 3 ^" ).

Table 5: Chemical shifts of coniosulfide D in DMSO at 300K.

^a) The two methyl groups could not be clearly assigned. ^b) No signal was observed for C14 (extreme line broadening).

Example 10: High pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) of coniosulfides A-D.

Column: Superspher 100 RP-18e®, 250-4, with guard column,

Mobile phase: 55% acetonitrile in 0.1% phosphoric acid,

Flow rate: 1 mL per minute,

Detection by UV absorption at 210 nm. The following retention time was found: Coniosulfide A 14.8 minutes; Coniosulfide B 20.1 minutes; Coniosulfide C 10.6 minutes; Coniosulfide D 14.2 minutes;

Example 11: Preparation of a major culture of Coniochaeta ellipsoidea Udagawa, DSM 13856, on solid medium plates.

30 sterile 22 x 22 cm plates are poured with 200 ml of a nutrient solution containing 20 g / l malt extract, 20 g / l oatmeal, 2% agar and a pH of 7.0. These plates are inoculated with 2 ml of a preculture of Coniochaeta ellipsoidea Udagawa, DSM 13856, obtained according to Example 2, and incubated at 25 ° C. The maximum production of one or more compounds of the coniosetine according to the invention is reached after about 676 hours.

Example 12: Isolation of Coniosetin.

30 agar plates, size 25 x 25 cm, obtained according to Example 11, are freeze-dried and extracted with 2.5 liters of methanol. The clear liquid phase is concentrated to 100 mL in vacuo, diluted with water and applied to a 580 mL column filled with the MCI Gel® CHP20P adsorption resin. Column dimensions: width x height: 5 cm x 30 cm. Eluated is collected with a solvent gradient of 5% acetonitrile in water to 90% acetonitrile and the column effluent (40 mL / minute) in fractions of 120 mL each. The coniosetine-containing fractions, which are checked by HPLC analyzes, are collected and concentrated in vacuo and freeze-dried (0.3 g).

Example 13: High pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) of coniosetin.

Column: Superspher 100 RP-18e®, 250-4, with guard column,

Mobile phase: 75% acetonitrile in 0.1% phosphoric acid,

Flow rate: 1 mL per minute, Detection by UV absorption at 210 nm.

The retention time of Coniosetin is 13.6 minutes.

Example 14: Final cleaning of coniosetine.

The enriched antibiotic coniosetin (0.3 g), obtained according to Example 12, is incubated on a LiChrospher® 100 RP-18e HPLC column (width x height = 2.5 cm x 25 cm) in the gradient method with 75% to 100% acetonitrile in 0, 05% acetic acid separated. Flow: 30 mL / min. Fraction size: 60 mL. The fractions investigated by analytical HPLC (see Example 5) are combined according to their coniosetine content, concentrated in vacuo and freeze-dried. They yield 170 mg of coniosetin in 98% purity.

Example 15: Characterization of coniosetine.

Determination of the molar peak:

The sought molecule is assigned the mass 413 on the basis of the following findings:

ESI ⁺ spectrum and FAB ⁺ spectra show peaks at 414 amu (M + H) ⁺ . ESI spectrum shows, among other things, a peak at 412 amu (MH) -. High resolution of the quasi-molecular ion:

Under FAB conditions with a nitrobenzyl alcohol matrix, i.a. a peak observed at 414.2645 amu. The mass accuracy of the measurement is about 5 ppm. The reading is in good agreement with the elemental composition calculated for C25H3 NO4 = 414.2644 amu. At this

Elemental composition are 9 double bond equivalents.

The physico-chemical and spectroscopic properties of the antibiotic according to the invention can be summarized as follows: coniosetin:

Appearance:

Colorless to light yellow, soluble in medium polar and polar organic solvents, little soluble in water substance. Stable in neutral and mildly acidic

Environment, but unstable in strongly acidic and strongly alkaline solution.

Molecular formula: C25H35NO4

Molecular weight: 413.56

1 H and ¹³ C NMR: see Tables 6 and 7 UV maxima: 233 nm, 288 nm

Table 6: ^ H and ^ C chemical shifts of coniosetin to DMSO-de and methanol-d4 at 300K.

Table 7: ^" H and ^π3 c chemical shifts of coniosetin in CDCI3 at 300K.

Example 16: Inhibition Assay of APP - FE65 - Interaction.

Reagents and sources: HEPES, Sigma, H-9136, NaCI, Riedel de Haen, 31434, EDTA, Sigma, E-1644,

CHAPS, Sigma, C-5849,

KF, Sigma, P-1179,

BSA, Sigma, A-9647

Monoclonal anti-GST antibody labeled with XL665, CIS bio Intern., D11 / 459/12/47270;

Streptavidin labeled with Eu-cryptate, CIS bio Intern., D11 / 450/12/47269;

32mer cAPP, Sigma, E2533;

Biotin-cAPP, Aventis SA, Vitry.

Buffer A:

10mM HEPES, pH 7.2 + 150mM NaCl + 3.4mM EDTA + 0.184g / L CHAPS.

Buffer B: 100mM HEPES, pH 7.0 + 400mM KF + 133mM EDTA + 1g / L BSA.

Execution:

1 μl of the test solution was pipetted together with 30 μM 32mer cAPP in buffer A into a microtiter plate. Then 1 μl of biotin-cAPP (10 nM, dissolved in buffer A) was added. After incubation for 15 minutes, 1 μL of GST-PTB2 (20 nM in Buffer A) was added and incubated again for 15 minutes. Then 4 μl of antibody mixture (streptavidin labeled with Eu-cryptate, 2 ng per well, monoclonal anti-GST antibody labeled XL665, 25 ng in buffer B) were added. After 30 minutes at room temperature, the emission signal of the energy transfer and the europium signal were measured in a Tecan Ultra Photometer at 665 nm and 615 nm after the test solution was excited with light of wavelength 340 nm.

For the inhibition of the amyloid precursor protein - FE65 interaction, the IC50 values given in Table 1 were found.

Claims

claims:

1. Compound of formula (I)

where R ^{1 is} 1.0 H. or

2.0 is a radical selected from -CrC ₆ alkyl, -C ₂ -C ₆ alkenyl, -C ₂ -C ₆ alkynyl or -C _ö -Cio-aryl, which may be mono- or disubstituted by

2.1 -OH,

2.2 = 0,

2.3 -0- (CC ₆ -alkyl),

2.4 -O- (C ₂ -C ₆ -alkenyl), C ₂ -C ₆ -arycyl,

2.6 -NH-C ₁ -C ₆ -alkyl,

2.7 -NH-C ₂ -C ₆ -alkenyl,

2.8 -NH ₂ or

2.9 fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine, wherein the substituents 2.3 to 2.8 may also be further substituted by -CN, -Amid or -Oxim functions, or 3.0 - (-CC ₄ alkyl) - (C ₆ -Cιo -Aryl), or 4.0 -NH ₂ , -NH- (CC ₆ -alkyl), -NH- (C ₂ -C ₆ -alkenyl),

R ^{2 is} H, methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl or isobutyl,

R ^{3 is} a radical consisting of 1 to 10 amino acids, which may be N-terminally protected, R ^{4 is} H, -dC ₆ alkyl, -CO- (C ₁ -C ₆ alkyl), and p is an integer 0, 1 or 2,

excluding compounds of the formula (I) in which R ^{1 is} H, R ^{2 is} H,

R ^{4 is} H, and p is 0 or 1,

and / or a stereoisomeric form of the compound of the formula (I) and / or mixtures of this form in any ratio,

and / or a physiologically acceptable salt of the compound of formula (I).

A compound of the formula (I) according to claim 1, wherein R ^{4 is} H, and R ¹ , R ² , R ³ and p are as defined in claim 1.

3. A compound of formula (I) according to claim 1, wherein R ^{4 is} H, and p is 0, and

R ¹ , R ² and R ^{3 are} as defined in claim 1.

4. A compound of formula (I) according to claim 1, wherein R ^{2 is} H or methyl,

R ^{4 is} H, p is 0, and

R ¹ and R ^{3 are} as defined in claim 1.

5. A compound of formula (I) according to claim 1, wherein R ^{2 is} H or methyl, R is a radical consisting of 1 to 2 amino acids, which may be N-terminally protected, R ^{4 is} H, p is 0, and

R ¹ are defined as in claim 1.

6. A compound of formula (I) according to claim 1, wherein

R ¹ H,

R ^{2 is} H or methyl,

R ^{d is} a radical consisting of 1 to 2 amino acids, which may be N-terminally protected,

R ^{4 is} H, and P 0 is.

7. Compound of the formula (II)

and their physiologically acceptable salts.

8. Coniosulfide A, a compound with the molecular formula C ₂ H ₃₄ θ N ₂ S and characterized by the H and ¹³ C NMR data according to Table 2, as well as physiologically acceptable salts of coniosulfide A.

9. Compound of formula (III):

and their physiologically acceptable salts.

10. Coniosulfide B, a compound having the molecular formula C ₂₃ H ₃₆ O ₄ N ₂ S and characterized by the ¹ H and ³ C NMR data according to Table 3, as well as physiologically acceptable salts of coniosulfide B.

11. Compound of the formula (IV)

and their physiologically acceptable salts.

12. Coniosulfide C, a compound having the molecular formula C ₂₄ H ₃₇ O ₅ N ₃ S and characterized by the ¹ H and ¹³ C NMR data according to Table 4, as well as physiologically acceptable salts of coniosulfide C.

13. Compound of formula (V)

and their physiologically acceptable salts.

14. Coniosulfide D, a compound having the molecular formula C ₂₅ H ₃₉ O ₅ N ₃ S and characterized by the ¹ H and ¹³ C NMR data according to Table 5, as well as physiologically acceptable salts of coniosulfide D.

15. A compound of formula (I) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, obtainable by fermentation of Coniochaeta ellipsoidea Udagawa, DSM 13856, or one of its mutants in a culture medium until a compound of formula (I) accumulates in the culture medium, and subsequent isolation of the compound of the formula (I), and optionally derivatization and / or optionally conversion into a pharmacologically acceptable salt.

16. A process for preparing a compound of formula (I), characterized in that the microorganism Coniochaeta ellipsoidea Udagawa, DSM 13856, or a variant or mutant of Coniochaeta ellipsoidea Udagawa, DSM 13856, is fermented in a culture medium until a compound of the Formula (I) accumulates in the culture broth, the compound of formula (I) is isolated, and optionally subsequently derivatized and optionally converted into a physiologically acceptable salt.

17. Medicaments containing at least one compound according to one or more of claims 1 to 15 and at least one physiologically suitable carrier and / or excipient.

18. A compound according to one or more of claims 1 to 15 for use as a medicament.

19. Use of a compound according to one or more of claims 1 to 15 for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment and prophylaxis of degenerative neuropathies or Alzheimer's disease.

20. Use of a compound of the formula (VI)

for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment and prophylaxis of degenerative neuropathies or Alzheimer's disease.

21. A process for the preparation of a medicament according to claim 17, characterized in that bringing at least one compound according to one or more of claims 1 to 15 with at least one physiologically suitable carrier and / or excipient in a suitable dosage form.